NBA Trade Rumors: Nets Want to Deal Paul Millsap 'For a Shooter' by 2022 Deadline

The Brooklyn Nets are shopping around veteran forward Paul Millsap ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

Stein said the Nets have "basically told him that they would try to find him a new home" (via HoopsHype). Brooklyn might be looking to swap him for a proven shooter.

Title contenders can never have enough shooting, and that's especially true of the Nets at the moment.

Joe Harris, their best long-range threat, is potentially looking at a second surgery on his ankle. The absence of the 30-year-old, who's averaging 2.9 made three-pointers and shooting 46.6 percent from beyond the arc, has been felt in a big way.

Harris' last appearance was a Nov. 14 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. In 38 games since then, Brooklyn is 29th in average three-point makes (10.1) and 23rd in three-point percentage (33.5).

The Athletic's Shams Charania reported the Nets have become more amenable to the idea of trading James Harden for Ben Simmons, which could significantly alter the Eastern Conference title race.

Even if that deal becomes a reality, acquiring Simmons and other assets from the Philadelphia 76ers may not address the clear need for shooting help.

Millsap's trade value is likely to be limited, though. The four-time All-Star has appeared in just 24 games and averaged 3.4 points and 3.7 rebounds. At 36 years old, he's clearly past his best.

But Millsap's $2.6 million salary makes him easy to move. Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer reported the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers have varying level of interest in him, with the latter viewing him as a buyout candidate.

The trouble for the Nets at this point is that potential suitors might be willing to wait and let the deadline pass so that they can sign Millsap without having to give up anything in return.